LATVIA
(Republic of Latvia)

Capital: Riga
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Population: 2,0 million people
GDP (PPS): 54 bln. dollars of the USA (2018)
Area: 64 589 sq.km.
IRCHP: 44 (2015)

ABOUT THE COUNTRY

The Latvia direction, one of three Baltic states located on east coast of the Baltic Sea between Estonia and Lithuania.
The country also borders on Russia and Belarus, and it divides sea borders with Sweden.

HISTORY

About 3000 the proto-Baltic ancestors of the Latvian people lodged on east coast of the Baltic Sea. Balts established trade ways to Rome and Byzantium, trading in local amber for precious metals. By 900 AD four certain Baltic tribes lived in Latvia: kurona, latgala, selonianets, polugalets (in Latvian: kursh, latgana, sek and zemgash) and also Lebanese (libish) speaking Finnish.
In the 12th century in the territory of Latvia there were 14 lands with their governors: Vanema, Ventava, Bandava, Pyemare, Duvzare, Tsekis, Megava, Pilsats, Top, Seliya, Koknes, Dzhersika, Talava and Adzele.

GEOGRAPHY

Having the area of 64 589 sq.km., Latvia makes about a half from Greece, or it is a little more, than in the State of West Virginia. Its generally flat landscape offers a combination of beaches, rivers, lakes, swamps and woods. There are four main regions: Western Latvia (Courland), East Latvia (Latgale), Northern Latvia (Vidzeme) and Southern Latvia (Zemgale).

CLIMATE

Coastal areas, especially western coast of the peninsula Kurland, have more sea climate with more cool summer and softer winters, and east parts - more continental climate with warmer summer and more severe winters.
Latvia has four pronounced seasons of almost equal length. The winter begins in the middle of December and lasts to the middle of March. Winters have the average temperature of -6 °C (21 °F) and are characterized by steady snow, bright sunlight and short days. The serious periods of a winter weather with cold winds, extreme temperature about -30 °C (-22 °F) and heavy snowfalls are the general. The summer begins in June and lasts till August. Summer usually warm and solar, with cool evenings and nights. The summer has the average temperature about 19 °C (66 °F), with extrema of 35 °C (95 °F). The spring and fall bring quite soft weather.

TOURISM

1,95 million People live in the country (in 2017), the capital and the largest city is Riga, oral languages - Latvian (official) and Russian, English (especially in business and tourism). Discover for yourself Latvia: Riga, Baltic Sea, Valley of the Gauja River, lake Valgums
Placement, hotels, attractions, festivals, actions, tourist boards, driving the bicycle, tourism, cruises, driving by boats, diving, excursions and many other things.